The solution to future disease problems lies in more investment in R&D: Dr Shailesh Ayyangar

India is second to none in terms of scientific talent, in terms of entrepreneurship and our ability to contribute in the scientific field.Shahid Akhter | ETHealthWorld | Updated: April 24, 2017, 11:21 IST

In an interview with ETHealthworld, Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, MD-India & Head-South Asia, Sanofi India Ltd., President- OPPI, Mumbai, talks about the various initiatives made in order to improve the healthcare conditions in India. Edited excerpts:

Why and what do we need to encourage R&D in India?

Before we think about encouraging R&D, we need to understand the value of R&D for a nation. We are a nation which contributes 20% of the worldwide disease burden. A population of 1.2 billion- and some of the Non-communicable diseases today are the highest in the world in terms of its prevalence. It is of paramount importance that India continues to understand the real reasons for the disease that is spreading in our country and how we can find solutions for these diseases. So from that angle, R&D becomes the very heart of the healthcare system and if we want to find a solution for the future problems, we really need to be spending more on research and development in our country so that we can find solutions at affordable prices for our population.

Most scientists working in global offices are of Indian origin, what will it take for our Indian scientists to work here and develop medicines here?

In order to truly contribute to the research environment, you need three things. First we need infrastructure which is of world class standards. We need to have academic institutes and industrial activities where young minds can come and contribute. The second thing we need is strong financial resources. For example, in the year 2015 the global pharmaceutical industry spent nearly 58.8 billion USD on R&D. In India, total spend on health research is 0.12% of GDP and in Great Britain they spend 4% of GDP in research. So it clearly shows that we need strong financial input. The third important aspect we need is an ecosystem or environment which encourages research.

We need to ensure that the research carried out in this country is protected, patented and valued. So, all the things have to come together like the infrastructure, the resources, financial system and the ecosystem of Intellectual Property Rights. When we can bring all this together, I am sure our scientists who are working in a number of other countries, especially Europe and the US would love to come back to their motherland and do the research in our country.

On behalf of OPPI what is the message you would like to share on innovation?

I think as the disease problems are getting more and more complicated, it is of paramount importance that we continue to encourage research activities not just in India but across the globe.

Research doesn’t have boundaries. We need to exchange information and collaboration in order to bring the best of the innovation into the market. Today the disease patterns are changing. There is a need for understanding the disease, its pathophysiology and then targeting those diseases with specific innovations which will address those disease problems.

The message from OPPI is to say that India is second to none in terms of scientific talent, entrepreneurship and our ability to contribute in the scientific field. I believe collaboratively we can work with the Government and we should be able to create that environment to encourage more and more research happening from our country.

There is a lot being said on innovation bringing profits to companies. What is your view on this?

It is definitely a fact that for any industrial organization to sustain and invest they need to make reasonable profit. It is that reasonable profit these companies make which is ploughed back into research.

To give you an example, companies like mine spend nearly 15-16% of its gross revenue in research and development; One concrete example is dengue which is impacting worldwide a major attention- there is no treatment or vaccine available to prevent it. It took Sanofi 20 years of non-stop research and 1.2 billion Euros in research commitment to finally come up with a vaccine that can be administered to patients across the world to prevent dengue. This kind of long gestation period of investment requires reasonable return otherwise research will stop. If research stops, there will be no generics.

So clearly there is a case for investment in research and reasonable return. I and my member companies in OPPI also believe that the fruits of innovation should not be denied to any individual who deserves or who needs it. In order to achieve that there is a need for a collaborative approach. Industry cannot take the responsibility of funding the healthcare needs of a nation. It needs to be equally shared by various stakeholders and most importantly the Government. When this happens, I think no innovation will be out of reach for the poorest of the poor in any parts of the world.

Ever since India is declared the diabetes capital of the world, what have OPPI member companies designed to combat this public health hazard?

Diabetes and Non-Communicable Diseases are now assuming tsunamic proportions. It is almost like an epidemic. I am pleased to tell you that OPPI member companies are working in various spheres. The most obvious one is in bringing innovative and latest medicines which are discovered by our parent companies into our country.

We are also helping the Government of India and various other stakeholders in the area of diagnosis, in the area of capacity building and in integrated disease management approach. A disease like diabetes cannot be managed by simply giving insulin or an oral anti-diabetic drug. What we need to do is to bring about fundamental changes in the lifestyle of the people who are suffering from diabetes and also educate them with regard to diet and various other aspects of life-changing mechanisms.

Our member companies are working with Government of India, we are working with NGOs, we are working with State Governments and there are several programmes which are running, which we are trying to build at village level, at school level, education and understanding of what we can do to prevent diabetes and if one is suffering from diabetes how he or she can live almost disease-free by modifying the lifestyle. So we have very many such examples of working in various spheres of different parts of the country to bring fundamental changes in the people’s lifestyles.